The Veterans’ Corner Heroic WWII chaplains to be honored

Thursday

Jan 30, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By Dale MidgleySanford News Guest Columnist

At 12:55 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 3, 1943, the U.S. Army transport ship Dorchester was struck by a torpedo fired from the U-223 while carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers from Newfoundland to Greenland.

The Dorchester started taking water rapidly and sinking. In less than 27 minutes, the ship would sink beneath the Atlantic’s icy waters.

Aboard the Dorchester, panic and chaos had set in. Through the pandemonium, according to those present, four Army chaplains brought hope in despair and light in the darkness. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark. V. Poling, Dutch Reformed.

Quickly and quietly, the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers. There they tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety.

By this time, most of the men were topside, and the chaplains opened a storage locker and began handing out life jackets. It was then that Engineer Grady Clack witnessed an astonishing sight. When there were no more life jackets, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men.

As the ship went down, survivors, in nearby rafts, could see the four chaplains, arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could be heard offering prayers.

When news reached American shores, the nation was stunned by the magnitude of the tragedy and the heroic conduct of the four chaplains.

Valor is a gift. Carl Sandburg once said, “Those having it never know for sure whether they have it until the test comes.” That night, Reverend Fox, Rabbi Goode, Reverend Poling and Father Washington passed life’s ultimate test. In doing so, they became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness.

The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously on Dec. 19, 1944, to the next of kin by Lt. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, the commanding general of the Army Service Forces in a ceremony at Fort Myer, Virginia. A posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, never before given and never to be given again, was authorized by Congress and awarded by the President on Jan. 18, 1961, to the families of the chaplains.

In February 1951, The Chapel of the Four Chaplains, an interfaith memorial chapel, was dedicated in Philadelphia to honor their memory and extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness.

A special ceremony to honor these four chaplains will be held at the American Legion Post 19 Hall on Main Street on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. The public is invited.

JOB FAIR TO RETURN IN MARCH

The 4th Annual York County Regional Job Fair will be held at the Nasson Community Center at 457 Main Street on Friday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More than 60 employers will take part in the event. Representatives of veterans’ organizations will be there too.

For more information, call 1-800-343-0151 or 324-5460.

THE VETERANS’ CALENDAR

■ Monday, Feb. 3: The American Legion Auxiliary will hold a meeting at its Main Street headquarters at 6 p.m.

■ Wednesday, Feb. 5: American Legion Post 19 will hold its general meeting at 6:45 p.m. at its Main Street headquarters.

■ Sunday, Feb. 9: The Southern Maine Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America will hold its general meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Sanford Elks Lodge at 13 Elm Street. (This meeting has been pushed back a week because of the Super Bowl.) Rolling Thunder will hold a general meeting at AMVETS Post 3 on School Street from noon to 2 p.m.

■ Monday. Feb. 10: American Legion Auxiliary will hold a meeting at its Main Street headquarters at 6 p.m. Also, VFW Post 9935 will hold a general meeting at its School Street headquarters at 6:30 p.m.

■ Tuesday, Feb. 11: The Sons of the American Legion will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. at their Main Street headquarters.

■ Wednesday, Feb. 12: AMVETS Post 3 and Auxiliary will hold their general meetingsat their School Street headquarters at 7 p.m.

■ Tuesday, Feb. 18: The VFW Men’s Auxiliary will hold a meeting at VFW Post 9935 at their School Street headquarters at 7 p.m.

■ Wednesday, Feb. 19: The Marine League Detachment will hold a general meeting at the AMVETS Post 3 on School Street at 6 p.m.

■ Saturday, Feb. 22: Rolling Thunder of Maine will serve its “Famous Family Buffet,” an all-you-can-eat meal, at VFW Post 9935 on School Street from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Adults can eat for $5; children ages 12 and younger, for $2.50.

■ Wednesday, Feb. 26: The Sanford Veterans Memorial Committee will meet at 7 p.m. at the AMVETS Post 3 Hall on School Street.

SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR VETERANS

Counseling and Referral Services for Veterans and their Families

Sanford Vet Center

U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs

628 Main Street

Springvale, Maine 04083

(207) 490-1513

The center’s hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Appointments with counselors can be arranged by calling the center.

Sanford Free Meals Kitchen

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, free hot meals are served from noon to 1 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge on Elm Street in Sanford. All veterans are welcome. These meals are provided by York County Shelter Programs in Alfred.

Veterans Job Assistance

The York County Career Center at 3 Bodwell Street offers veterans’ job services in Springvale. The center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is one of 12 located across the state to assist veterans with finding employment, making career changes, receiving job Information, training and benefits and meeting other needs. Priority services are provided for all veterans who identify themselves as such.

The center is a division of the Department of Labor and its services are provided at no cost. A veteran representative and professional counselors are available to help meet veterans’ needs.

Any questions, just call 324-5460 or 1-800-343-0151, or visit online at www.mainecareercenter.com for monthly schedule of programs.

Veterans Clothing Assistance

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a military surplus program for homeless veterans in need on Jagger Mill Road in South Sanford. The program is now open on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. Attention all veterans: If you haven’t joined any of the local veteran’s organizations in the Sanford-Springvale area, you are missing a great opportunity for assistance and camaraderie.